Educational appliance.



C. P. WATSON.

EDUCATIONAL APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION HLED AUG.24. 1918.

1,293,586. Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

UNHED srarne rarnur are CHARLES PERCY WATSON, OF FOSSE, LEICESTER,ENGLAND.

EDUCATIONAL APPLIANCE.

Application filed August 24, 1918.

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES PERCY WAT- sox, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at 2 St. Pauls road, Fosse, Leicester, England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Educational Ap-V Vseparately pivoted plates, prisms or the like,

hereafter in this specification termed indicators, adapted to havecharacters delineated upon them, each indicator being capable of beingindependently turned about its pivot in order to exhibit such charactersor a selection of such characters to view, or to be 7 turned so thatsaid characters are not exi for retaining the indicators in the positionposed, and in these appliances it has been hitherto considered necessaryto provide frictional bearings for the pivots in order to retain theindicators in the position in which they have been set.

Now plates, prisms or the like so mounted in frictional bearings do notprovide the requisite conveniences required in such educationalappliances, in that for example when an educational appliance comprisinga considerable number of such frictionally carried plates or indicatingsurfaces which have been set for illustrating some educative lesson, andhave individually been so set, such indicators must separately or ingroups be operated so as to return them to that position in which eitherallthe indicators are in view, or in which all the indicators are out ofview, which entails some labor as well as a loss of time, which loss isimportant s when passing from one educative lesson to another; moreoverthe necesslty for providmg frictional bearings and other like devices inwhich they have been placed entails a complex and correspondinglyexpensive construction, and moreover a construction which is subject toderangement in such uses as these appliances are calculated to have.

Now the primary object of this invention is to provide what I havetermed pivoted indicators but so constructed that a suitable number maybe carried in a frame, and by the mere rocking of which frame in onedirection all the indicators thereon can be brought into view and soremain when the frame is returned to its normal Vertical position. Byrocking the frame in the other di- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. a, 1919.

Serial No. 251,228.

rection all the indicators can simultaneously be brought into a positionwhen the delineatlons thereon are out of view and the indicators will soremain when the frame is returned to its vertical position, while at thesame time any individual indicator, or a number or selection of suchindividual indicators, can be thrown into or out of view by thelecturersimply tapping the indicator or indicators with a pointer, and thiswithout rocking the frame.

According to this invention each indicator consists of a plate having adesired symbol delineated on its front face, and having rearwardlyextending bearings which may consist of ears each formed with a hole,through which bearings or holes or through a slee ve carried by suchears, a horizontal plvot freely passes so that when the plate isapproxlmately vertical, the center of gravity of the plate is in frontof and above the axis of the pivot and the lower edge of the plate sitsupon a suitable stop, while when the plate is thrown out of view, thatis soithat it is approximately edgewise to the observer, the center ofgravity of the plate is rocked over rearward of the pivot and remains sobecause the center of gravity is then between the pivot and the top orrear extremity of the indicator, and the rear edge of the plate thenrests on a stationary ledge of the carrying frame.

It will now be well understood that any number of such plates may bemounted within one frame, and'the frame can be mounted on pivots orcarried by any suitable means so that the whole frame can at timesremain vertical during an educative lecture, or it can be rocked in oneangular direction to bring all the plates into View, or be rocked in theopposite direction to throw all the plates out of view, and after eachsuch movement be brought to its vertical position.

Therefore in carrying out this invention each plate is mounted freelyupon a horizontal pivot which however is in a plane parallel to theplane of the plate but at a distance therefrom, so that as the plate isturned from an approximately vertical position to an approximatelyhorizontal position, the center of gravity of the plate changes from oneside of the'pivot to the other transversely of its length, and thereforethe plate remains in either of its positions resting against a stopuntil it is again rocked.

The invention is described in further detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, whereon Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2is a side elevation, showing an example by general views of acompletewhich it has been brought to cause the plate to rock from itsapproximately vertical to its approximately horizontal position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing two of such plates in aframe in differing positions. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the upperplate shown at Fig. 4 detached from the framework, and Fig. 6 is a viewof one of the plates showing a character delineated thereon.

Referring to the example of construction shown in the accompanyingdrawings and primarily to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, each indicator plate 1 whichmay be formed of any suitable material such as metal, consists as shownof a rectangular flat surface from each side of which extends a flangedear 2, between which ears a tube 3 extends, and passing through the tubeis a pivot pin 4, the ends of which are fixed in a framework 5 having ahorizontal partition 6 below the plate and also a rear bar 7, and ofsuch construction, that when the frame 5 is rocked to a rearward angleas shownin Fig. 3, the plate 1 35' will be rocked about its pivot 4until the upperportion of the plate (shown in Fig. 4) rests on the rearbar 7 as shown in Fig. 3, the center of gravity of the plate 1 beingthen rearwardof the pivot 4, and when the frame 5 is brought to avertical position the plate will still rest upon the rear bar 7 as shownat the lower part of Fig. 4 and will remain in that position with itsfront face, upon which a figure or other sign is delineated, out of viewof the observers who are located in front of the apparatus, andpreferably the lower edge 8 of the plate 1 entirely prevents the figureor the like on the front of the plate from being observed when the saidplate 1 is in the position shown at the lower part of Fig. 4.

By tilting the frame 5 to an opposite angle to that indicated in Fig.all the plates will again assume the position of that shown at the upperpart of Fig. 4 when the figure or other sign delineated on its face willbe in view of the observers.

Obviously the mechanical construction of the device may be varied tosome extent, as for instance the tube 3 may be dispensed with and thepivot 4 simply pass through the ears 2 of the plate 1.

When the plate is in its approximately vertical position as shown at theupper part of Fig. 4 the forwardly bent edge 8 of the plate 1 rests uponthe front edge of the horizontal partition 6.

Fig. 5 illustrates the rear View of the plate 1 and shows the tube 3passing from that 'it can be rocked to the requisite angles,

andin the example illustrated the frame is supported upon pivots 9carried by two standards 10, and one of the pivots is provided with awheel 11 or a wheel may be placed at each end, OrOtheropera-ting meansmay be employed which are adapted to be grasped by the hand of the userand by which the frame can be rocked, and in the example shown thepivots 9 are located above the center of gravity of the frame so thatnormally thef-rame will be suspended in a vertical position. Means areindicated such as pins 12' by which the angular movement of the frame 5'is limited in either direction. In some casesthe rocking axis of theframe 5 may be central, inwhich case any suitable catch or grip may beprovided to-ret-ain the frame-in its approximately vertical position.

.With SllOll 1H1"dll angemllb ly l'bclhling the frame to about thedottedposition 13 shownat Fig; 2 all the indicating platesl will beplaced so that the signs delineatedthereon willbe out of view oftheobserver whereas by rocking thef-rame into about the dotted positionshown at 14 Fig. 2, all the plates 1 will be rocked into that positionin which their indicating faces can be observed, and from eitherposition the frame will automatically assume its-vertical position shownin full lines, in which thei-nd-ieating plates will still remaininpositionsinto which they have been placed by the rocking of the frame.

It will alsobe observed that when the frame is in its vertical positionany of the plates may be rocked from their indicating positionsto-thei'r' negatiwe positions, or vice verse, by, being individuallytapped by a pointer orthe like, and win remaia in the positienso laeed.

Obviously variationsmay be made in the construction type of supports forthe frame 5, Figs. 1 and 2' and the means for rocking the frame-5 may bevar ied. Also the ears 2 of each plate have beenillus'trat'ed as beingformed by bending rearward aportien of the plate from each side thereof,but insteadthereof the ears may be produced by bending a strip of metalwith its ends at right angles'to its length, and fixing such strip tothe rear of the plate, and forming the bent ends with holes to receivethe spin- 7 formed through the plate itself in a proper position.

That I claim as my invention and desire I to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In educational appliances of the kind specified; the combinationof an indicator plate having a desired symbol delineated on its frontface, bearings extending from the rear face of the said 'plate, ahorizontal pivot to freely'paSs through the said hearings to supportsaid plate, a frame to support sald pivot, said bearings beingpositioned on said plate so that the center of gravity thereof is infront of and above the axis of said pivot when said plate isapproximately vertical and is rearward of said pivot when said plate isrocked to an approximately horizontal position edgewise to the observer,a horizontal member on said frame with which the lower edge of saidplate contacts and upon which it rests when said plate is in itsvertical position, and a rear bar on said frame rearward of said plateupon which the rear upper portion of said plate rests when placedapproximately edgewise to the observer.

2. In educational appliances of the kind specified; the combination of aframework, vertical and horizontal strips dividing said framework into aplurality of frames and a rear bar extending horizontally at the rear ofeach horizontal strip, a plurality of indicator plates each having adesired symbol delineated on its front face oneplate located in each ofsaid frames, bearings extending from the rear face of each of saidplates, a horizontal pivot freely passing through said rearwardlyextending bearings of each plate and supported in said frame, saidbearings on said plate being located in such positions on the rear facethereof that when said framework is rocked from a vertical positionabout a horizontal axis in one diregtion said indicator plates will beturnedby gravity upon their pivots and when said framework is againvertical will remain in an approximately vertical position with thelower edges of said plates resting on said horizontal dividing strips ofsaid framework and when said framework is rocked in an oppositedirection and again turned to its vertical position said indicatorplates will have been again rocked about their pivot-s by gravity andrest upon said rear bars of said framework and there remain in positionedgewise to the observer.

3. In educational appliances of the kind specified; the combination ofan indicator plate having a desired symbol delineated on its front face,ears extending rearwardly at Eff right angles from the rear face of saidplate, said ears having holes formed through same at a distance from therear face of said plate, a horizontal pivot to freely pass through theholes in said ears to support said plate about which pivot said platecan freely turn, a framework to support said pivot, a horizontal memberon said framework upon which the lower edge of said plate rests when approximately vertical, and a rear bar on said framework rearward of saidplate upon which the rear upper portion of said plate rests whenapproximately horizontal, said pivot being located relatively to saidplate in such position that said plate when rocked about said pivot intoa vertical position is retained by gravity and rests on said horizontalmember, and when rocked about said pivot into a horizontal position isretained therein by gravity and rests on said rear bar.

4:. In educational appliances of the kind specified; the combination ofa framework,

vertical and horizontal strips dividing said framework into a pluralityof frames and a rear bar extending horizontally at the rear of eachhorizontal strip, a plurality of indicator plates each having a desiredsymbol delineated on its front face one plate located in each of saidframes, bearings extending from rear face of each of said plates, ahorizontal pivot freely pasing through said rearwardly extendingbearings of each plate and supported in said frame, horizontal trunnionson said framework, standards to carry said trunnions, means for rockingsaid framework from and to a vertical position in either direction aboutthe axis of said trunnions, said bearings on said plate being located insuch positions on the rear face thereof that when said framework isrocked from a vertical position about a horizontal axis in one directionsaid indicator plates will be turned by gravity upon their pivots andwhen said framework is again vertical will remain in an approximatelyvertical position with the lower edges of said plates resting on saidhorizontal dividing strips of said framework and when said framework isrocked in an opposite direction and again turned to its verticalposition said indicator plates will have been again rocked about theirpivots by gravity and rest upon said rear bars of said framework andthere remain in positions edgewise to the observer.

5. In educational appliances of the kind specified; the combination ofan indicator plate having a desired symbol delineated on its front face,'ears extending rearwardly at right angles from the rear face of saidplate, a bearing tube fixed to said ears, a horizontal pivot to freelypass through said bearing tube to support said plate about which pivotsaid plate can freely turn, a framework to support said plvot, ahorizontal member on sald framework upon which the lower edge of saidplate rests when approximately vertical, and a rear bar on said framerearward of said plateupon which the rear upper portionof said platenests when approximately horizontal, said pivot being located relativelyto said plate in such position that said plate when rocked about saidpivot into a vertical position is retained by gravity and rests on saidhorizontal member, and when rocked about said pivot into a horizontalposition is retained therein by gravity and rests on said rear bar.

6. In educational appliances of the kind specified; the combination ofan indicator plate having. a' desired symbol delineated on its frontface, a forwardly extending flange on the lower edge of said plateconsidering same in a vertical position, bearings extending from therear face'of said plate, a horizontal pivot to freely pass through thesaid bearings to support said plate, a frame to support saidpivot,.s'aidbearingsbeing positioned on said plate; so that theecenterof gravity thereof is in front of and above the axis of, said. :pivotwhen said plate is ap proximately vertical and is-rearward of said pivotwhen said plate is rocked ;to an approximately horizontal positionedgewise to the ObSGI'VBI a horizontatmember on said frame With whichthe lower flangededge-of said plate contacts and upon which it restswhen said plate is in its-vertical position, and a rear bar on saidframe rearward of said plate upon whiehlthe rearedgeof said,plate'restsW-hen placed approximately edge- Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by lddtening. the"0ommisaloner 0tEatentl. Washington, D. c."

